CELPIP Reading Part 4: Reading for Viewpoints
By Iris · Reading · Published · 5 min read
Part 4 is the longest and hardest text in CELPIP Reading. The English is more formal, several opinions appear side by side, and you have to keep track of which belongs to whom. The good news is that a simple method, mapping the voices before you answer, solves most of the difficulty.
What CELPIP Reading Part 4 involves
Part 4, Reading for Viewpoints, has 10 questions and about 13 minutes. You read an opinion article, then a reader's comment that responds to it. You answer questions about the article's arguments, then complete the reader's comment by choosing the right options.
Topics tend to be public debates: city planning, technology at work or school, health policy, the environment and similar issues. You do not need any background knowledge; everything you need is in the text, and answers based on your own opinion or general knowledge are a trap.
Map the voices before you answer
An opinion article rarely contains only the writer's opinion. It usually describes what supporters say, what critics say, what an expert or study found, and then what the writer thinks. Many wrong options are real opinions from the text, just not the opinion the question asks about.
Original CELPass example paragraph: "Supporters of the four-day work week say it boosts morale and cuts commuting. Some business owners, however, worry that customers will be left waiting on Fridays. Labour economist Dana Ruiz points out that results so far come mostly from office jobs. In my view, the idea deserves a trial, but not a one-size-fits-all rule."
| Voice | Position |
|---|---|
| Supporters | Better morale, less commuting |
| Some business owners | Worried about customer service on Fridays |
| Dana Ruiz (expert) | Evidence is mostly from office jobs |
| The writer | Worth trying, but not as a rule for everyone |
If a question asks what the writer believes, "the four-day week will improve morale" is wrong even though it appears in the text: that is the supporters' view. Make a quick map like this on your scrap paper as you read.
Signal words that show whose view it is
Certain words tell you when the article moves from one viewpoint to another, or when the writer is conceding a point before disagreeing. Train your eye to stop on them.
| Purpose | Signal words |
|---|---|
| Reporting others | supporters argue, critics claim, according to, some people believe |
| The writer's own view | in my view, I would argue, it seems to me, the real question is |
| Contrast | however, but, on the other hand, yet, whereas |
| Concession | although, admittedly, it is true that, while |
| Conclusion | ultimately, in the end, overall, for this reason |
Concessions are especially important. "Admittedly, the program is expensive. But..." means the writer accepts the cost but still supports the program. An option saying the writer opposes it because of cost misreads the concession.
Answering questions about the article
Questions about the article can ask about its main purpose, the writer's overall opinion, a specific argument, why the writer mentions an example, or what a group in the article thinks. For each one, first decide which voice the question is about, then find that voice in your map and in the text.
- Main idea and purpose questions: use the opening and closing paragraphs, where writers usually state their position.
- "Why does the writer mention..." questions: the answer is the role the example plays, such as supporting a point or showing a problem, not the example's content.
- Detail questions: find the exact sentence, then check that the option paraphrases it without adding or exaggerating.
- Be wary of options with "always", "never", "all" or "completely" when the writer used softer language such as "often" or "may".
Completing the reader's comment
The reader's comment responds to the article. Before you fill any gap, read the whole comment and decide the reader's stance: do they agree, disagree or partly agree with the writer? Every gap should fit that stance and the facts in the article.
Original CELPass example: "I run a small bakery, so I read this article with interest. Like the writer, I think a trial makes sense, but [I would start with office staff / every business should switch at once], since my counter can't close on Fridays." The reader agrees with the writer's cautious position and gives a business owner's worry, so only the first option fits.
- Check whether each gap refers back to something in the article. If the comment says "as the economist noted", the option must match what the economist actually said.
- Read past the gap to the end of the sentence. Words such as "since", "because" and "but" after the gap usually confirm the right choice.
Managing your 13 minutes
- Spend about 4–5 minutes reading the article and building your voice map. It speeds up every question afterwards.
- Answer the article questions next, then leave at least 3–4 minutes for the reader's comment.
- If a question stalls you, choose your best option and move on. There is no penalty for a wrong answer.
- Unused time from earlier parts does not carry over, so you cannot bank minutes for Part 4. Practise it at its real length.
How to practise Part 4
Opinion columns and letters to the editor in Canadian newspapers are close to the Part 4 style. For each one, list the voices and their positions in under five minutes, then write one sentence summarising the writer's own view. Reading the comments under an article and deciding whether each commenter agrees is good practice for the reader's comment.
For test-style questions, start with Paragon's official free practice tests. In CELPass you can drill Part 4 by itself in the question bank, and your mistakes come back as short daily drills.
Frequently asked questions
How long is CELPIP Reading Part 4?
Part 4 has 10 questions and about 13 minutes, the longest time of the four Reading parts.
Why is Part 4 the hardest CELPIP Reading part?
The article is the longest Reading text and presents several viewpoints, so you have to track who holds each opinion as well as what it is.
Keep reading
CELPass is an independent practice platform and is not affiliated with Paragon Testing Enterprises. CELPIP is a trademark of Paragon Testing Enterprises. Check the official CELPIP website and IRCC for current test rules and requirements.